A system, method, device, and control application are provided for controlling communication at a client device. A control application executing at the client device or on a network may be configured to send identification information for a user to a communication control web server; to receive access control information for the user from the communication control web server; to intercept a received communication sent to the user and/or to intercept a sent communication sent by the user; to determine if the received communication or the sent communication should be forwarded based on the access control information and a sender of the received communication or a recipient of the sent communication; and if the sender/recipient is found on an approved communication list, to send the communication to a client device networking layer. Other embodiments of the system include a client-portal architecture.
Method And Apparatus For Providing Content Access Controls To Access The Internet
Robert Dahlstrom - Jacksonville FL, US Kevin Bespolka - Vero Beach FL, US David DeWald - Jacksonville FL, US
International Classification:
G06F015/16
US Classification:
709229000
Abstract:
An Internet access control system is defined using a client-server architecture. The computer program installed on the client computer validates/identifies the user and user specific information is passed to the client computer. All user requests to access the Internet are intercepted by an application executing on the client computer. The URL extracted from the internet access request is sent to the Internet access control web server to determine if the URL is in a master list of previously evaluated websites. If the URL is found, the website ratings and subject matter categories are sent to the client computer for determination of whether or not the website contains information appropriate for the user attempting to access the Internet using web access settings defined by, for example, a parent or employer. If the URL is determined to be appropriate, the Internet access request is sent to the computer networking layer to which the request was originally routed; otherwise, the Internet access request is edited and is sent to the computer networking layer to which the request was originally routed for redirection of the transmission request.